Cold War timeline by Raul Ruiz

1947

elloading901 — 2024-06-12 20:19:33 UTC

The U.S. ideological differences with the USSR make this cold war start

Iron Curtain

West and East Europe was divided, the west side were under USA and NATO ideologies meanwhile the east side were being ruled by the USSR.

Marshall Plan is announced setting a precedent for helping countries combat poverty, disease and malnutrition

1946

elloading901 — 2024-06-12 20:23:36 UTC

Stalin hostile speech - communism & capitalism were incompatible

"Sinews of Peace" Iron Curtain Speech by Winston Churchill - "an "iron curtain" has descended on Europe"

1948

elloading901 — 2024-06-12 20:26:22 UTC

Berlin Blockade begins lasting 11 months; in which the Soviet Union blocked all ground routes to West Berlin.

The U.S. and its allies responded with the Berlin Airlift, re-supplying West Berlin.

1949

elloading901 — 2024-06-12 20:29:37 UTC

Russia tested its first atomic bomb

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is ratified

Communist Mao Zedong takes control of China and establishes the People's Republic of China

Berlin Blockade ends

1950

elloading901 — 2024-06-12 20:31:17 UTC

The korean war took place from 1950 to 1953 where North Korea which was supported by China and the Soviet Union and fought against South Korea that was supported by the United Nations. This ended in a stalemate and the establishment of the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

1955

elloading901 — 2024-06-12 20:42:48 UTC

The Vietnam war

Another significant conflict where North Vietnam which also was supported by the Soviet Union and China fought against South Vietnam which was mainly supported by the U.S.

This war lasted 20 years until the fall of Saigon took place and the unification of Vietnam under communist control.

1962

elloading901 — 2024-06-12 20:46:10 UTC

The Cuban Missile Crisis

The Soviet Union managed to place nuclear missiles in Cuba which lead to a tense 13-day standoff with the United States; this ended with the Soviet Union agreeing to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba and removing U.S. missiles from Turkey.

1972

elloading901 — 2024-06-12 20:48:34 UTC

Tensions between the U.S. and the USSR eased, leading to several arms control agreements like the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

1979

elloading901 — 2024-06-12 20:57:52 UTC

The Soviet-Afgha war renewed tensions of the cold war making the U.S. to response under President Reagan, including the Strategic Defense Initiative, aiming to develop missile defense systems.

1989-1991

elloading901 — 2024-06-12 20:59:08 UTC

The Cold War ended in the late 1980s and early 1990s with the liberalizing reforms of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

These events marked the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the end of the ideological conflict.